# US 10,771,630 B1 · Systems and methods for intercepting communications

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- Number: US 10,771,630 B1
- Document ID: US10771630B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/597,651
- Filed: 2019-10-09
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-19
- Assignees: United States Automobile Association (USAA)
- Applicants: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
- Inventors: Gualberto Camacho; David Tuomikoski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771630B1

## CPC

- H04M 3/4365: {based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject}
- H04M 3/541: {based on information specified by the calling party}
- H04M 1/576: {associated with a pictorial or graphical representation}
- H04M 1/72469: for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
- H04M 3/42068: {where the identifier is used to access a profile}
- H04M 3/4211: {where the identifier is used to access a profile}
- H04M 3/2263: {Network management}
- H04M 2203/252: where a voice mode is enhanced with visual information
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

Tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media include instructions that cause a processor to receive a first indication that a user is attempting to communicate with a provider, and intercept communication between the user and the provider based on the first indication being received. The instructions also cause the processor to send user information to a provider application server based on the first indication being received, and display a visual interface that establishes communication with the relevant provider department or performs a transaction based on the first indication being received. The instructions further cause the processor to receive a second indication associated with performing the action associated with the provider via the visual interface; and performing the action based on the second indication being received.

## Claims

### Claim 1

One or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive an attempt to make a telephone call via an electronic device;
detect that the telephone call is directed to an entity based on call data received by the electronic device;
in response to detecting that the telephone call is directed to the entity, prevent the telephone call from being completed via the electronic device;
after detecting that the telephone call is directed to the entity, display a visual interface on an electronic display of the electronic device, wherein the visual interface comprises a prompt for an authentication process; and
perform the authentication process using a biometric reader of the electronic device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the processor to enable selection of a department of the entity from a plurality of departments of the entity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 2, wherein the instructions cause the processor to enable the selection of the department of the entity via the visual interface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 2, wherein the instructions cause the processor to establish communication with the department in response to receiving an indication of the selection of the department.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform a transaction associated with the entity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 5, wherein the instructions cause the processor to transfer funds, change a policy, make a payment, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The one or more tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 5, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the transaction associated with the entity via the visual interface.

### Claim 8

An electronic device comprising:
a display; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the display, wherein the controller comprises a processor and a memory, wherein the memory comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
detect a target of an outgoing request to communicate via a first mode of operation;
suspend the outgoing request to communicate via the first mode of communication based on the target;
provide a second mode of communication different from the first mode of communication;
display a visual interface via the second mode of communication, wherein the visual interface comprises a prompt for an authentication process; and
perform the authentication process using a biometric reader of the electronic device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to suspend an outgoing text message transmitted using a telephone network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the biometric reader comprises a fingerprint reader, a microphone, a retinal scanner, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, comprising software, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to perform the authentication process using the software, wherein the software enables entry of a personal identification number, a password, an answer to a security question, a drawing of a security pattern, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to display the visual interface comprising displaying a page configured to enable selection of a service provider department from a plurality of service provider departments.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the page comprises a topic selection control, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to populate the topic selection control with a plurality of topics based on the selection of the service provider department.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to populate the topic selection control with a second plurality of topics based on a second selection of a second service provider department of the plurality of service provider departments, wherein the second plurality of topics is different from the plurality of topics.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the page comprises an option selection control, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to populate the option selection control with a plurality of options based on a second selection of a topic of the plurality of topics, wherein each option of the plurality of options facilitate performing a transaction with the service provider department.

### Claim 16

A method of operation of a personal communication system, comprising:
detecting, with one or more processors, an attempted outgoing communication to a particular entity via a first mode of communication;
in response to detecting the attempted outgoing communication to the particular entity, blocking, with the one or processors, the attempted outgoing communication to the particular entity via the first mode of communication;
after detecting the attempted outgoing communication to the particular entity, with the one or more processors: initiating a second mode of communication different from the first mode of communication, displaying a visual interface on an electronic display via the second mode of communication, wherein the visual interface comprises a prompt for an authentication process; and
performing the authentication process using a biometric reader of the electronic device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, comprising directing, with the one or more processors, a telephone call to a service provider department among a plurality of service provider departments.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, comprising blocking, with the one or more processors, a telephone call to a service provider via a telephone network.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, comprising displaying a dial pad on the electronic display, wherein the telephone call is entered via the dial pad.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, comprising displaying the visual interface by overlaying the visual interface over the dial pad.